EPA Denies Petition to Ban Traditional Ammunition

Following a strong grassroots campaign led by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD)– an established anti-hunting group — calling for a ban on the production and distribution of traditional ammunition.

An EPA letter to the petitioners explaining the reasons for the rejection mirrored the legal arguments raised by the NSSF in its letter to the U.S. agency.

Steve Owens, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said, “EPA today denied a petition submitted by several outside groups for the agency to implement a ban on the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. EPA reached this decision because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – nor is the agency seeking such authority.”

Responding to the decision of the EPA, NSSF President Stephen L. Sanetti said, “This is a tremendous victory for all sportsmen, hunters and gun-owners. As the trade association for America’s firearms and ammunition industry, NSSF is thankful to the tens of thousands who answered our call to action and made their voices heard. Today’s victory belongs to them.”

NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane noted, “As we celebrate today’s decision, the fight to preserve and protect traditional ammunition from legislative, regulatory and judicial attack remains. And in order to ensure that our right to choose the ammunition we hunt and shoot with continues, it is imperative that we stay vigilant. This fight is far from over.”